Lars Stindl's equaliser on the stroke of half time has cancelled out Aron Johannsson's penalty as Werder Bremen and Borussia Monchengladbach go into the break level at 1-1 in the Bundesliga clash at Weserstadion.

Granit Xhaka had the first effort of the game for the away side when he forced a fine stop from Bremen goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald from just outside the box.

The visitors had another chance to strike first when Oscar Wendt fed Raffael, but the striker's shot was saved by Wiedwald with nobody following in to convert on from the rebound.

Janick Vestergaard finally forced Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer into action midway through the first half when his effort was too hot to handle, but the home side were unable to take advantage from the resultant corner.

Anthony Ujah, scorer of Bremen's equaliser at Hertha Berlin last weekend, should have put his name on the scoresheet again when he somehow headed over the bar from close range as Werder enjoyed a prolonged spell of possession.

Their pressure was rewarded six minutes before the whistle when Marvin Schulz brought down Ujah in the box, and Johannsson stepped up to convert from the spot and break the deadlock.

That lead lasted only until first-half injury time, however, as Stindl swivelled in the box and fired home via a deflection to ensure parity was restored at the break.